J.J. Watt ripped the NFL for not holding refs accountable after another missed roughing call

It’s not an easy job to be an NFL official. They’re tasked with monitoring so many moving components at incredible speeds, so calls are going to be missed. But at the same time, these are supposed to be the world’s best football officials, and the NFL should hold them to that standard.

J.J. Watt certainly thinks so.

Sunday night’s game between the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants had its share of questionable calls. And before the Giants’ hopes were dashed on a last-play no-call, Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke was flagged for one of the softest roughing the passer penalties we’ll see all season.

This might be the worst roughing the passer call so far this season. pic.twitter.com/kuzrdgTaqW

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 16, 2023

From the replay, it was difficult to guess what the officials even thought happened there. Okereke didn’t go to Josh Allen’s head or neck. He didn’t drive him to the ground with his body weight. He didn’t hit him below the knees. All Okereke did was follow through at Allen’s arms. The contact wasn’t late. By all accounts, it should not have been a roughing penalty.

Watt — who had to navigate those rules his entire career — was baffled to see that call go against the Giants.

Lack of accountability for refs is infuriating for players because they don’t receive the same leniency.

Players get flagged, fined & can potentially win/lose games on erroneous calls.

Refs get “corrected” privately after the fact and “may” lose out on postseason opportunities. https://t.co/6BMvM4N7wZ

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 16, 2023

The lack of accountability isn’t just an NFL issue either. Officials across all of American professional sports are rarely disciplined for game-altering missed calls. NFL officials are part-time employees compared to leagues like MLB, NHL and NBA that employ full-time officials. It’s something that really should change, though, because enough is enough.